Dexter

The new tv series, “Dexter,” now on CBS, is in its second season on Showtime. Based on the novels of Jeffry P. Lindsay, “Dexter” follows Dexter Morgan, a blood spatter analyst with the Miami Police Department. But Dexter has a secret—he is also a serial killer, who selects victims that have committed horrible crimes, but have eluded police. He is judge, jury, and executioner.

Lindsay’s three Dexter novels are: Darkly Dreaming Dexter (2004), Dearly Devoted Dexter (2005), and Dexter in the Dark (2007). They are available on audiobook, narrated by Nick Landrum. In an interview, Landrum confessed that they were his least favorite books to narrate, as they were so violent and dark.

Based on the first episode, the creators of the tv series are sticking pretty close to the books. Although there are chopped up bodies, they aren’t any bloodier or gorier than on CSI or Law and Order. The characters are very close to the books version—the suspicious cop, the ambitious but slightly clueless sister, the girlfriend who is a survivor of a violent marriage. You don’t want to like Dexter, but to be honest, you hope he’ll give the bad guys what they deserve.